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Friday, 22 December 2017

Catalonia election: Carles Puigdemont calls for talks with Spain

Catalonia's ousted separatist leader, Carles Puigdemont, has called for new talks with Spain following a snap regional election.

He said he wanted discussions to take place in Brussels, where he is living in self-imposed exile.

He earlier declared that the Spanish state had been defeated, as separatist parties still hold a slim, reduced majority.

The Spanish government is meeting to discussing its next steps.

"Now is the time for dialogue," said Mr Puigdemont, speaking in Belgium.

It is unclear who will be given the right to form a government.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had hoped the poll would restore stability but instead Spain's political turmoil looks set to continue. Mr Rajoy's conservative Popular Party (PP) recorded its worst ever result in Thursday's vote.

However, the Citizens party, which wants Catalonia to remain a semi-autonomous part of Spain, is the region's biggest party.

The Spanish government imposed direct rule on Catalonia and called the election after declaring an October independence referendum illegal.